Chiropractor in Novato, CA
Get Your Life Back — Without Surgery or Drugs.
If back or neck pain from a herniated or degenerated disc is holding you back, there's a proven non-surgical path forward. 40 years helping patients heal.
★★★★★ 305+ five-star reviews
12,000+ patients treated
Serving Novato since 1987
special
- Same-week appointments
- Digital imaging on site
- Most insurance & Med Pay accepted
- No referral needed
If it started in your spine, we've seen it before
Most of our patients arrive after months of pain and at least one specialist who offered surgery or a prescription. Find your symptom below.
Meet the chiropractor first
If you found your symptom above, this is the person who would be looking at it. Dr. Douglas DeSalvo introduces himself and the practice in his own words — no jargon, no sales pitch.
When you are ready, your first visit is with him personally. He listens to your history, examines you thoroughly, gives you your first treatment and maps out a plan built around you, all for $97 with our New Patient Special.
New patients only, one per person. X-rays are not included. If you choose to continue care, your care plan and its pricing are discussed with you up front. Not available for automobile-accident or personal-injury cases. Read the full disclaimer.
40 yrs in practice in Marin
Pain is a symptom. We treat what is causing it.
Chiropractic care restores normal motion to the joints of your spine so the nerves running through them stop being irritated. When a disc bulges or a vertebra loses its motion, the nerve it protects sends pain, numbness or weakness somewhere else in your body — which is why back trouble shows up as a leg that burns or a hand that tingles.
Our exam finds the level that's failing, then we combine gentle adjusting with spinal decompression and laser therapy to take pressure off the disc and let it heal.
- Non-surgical, drug-free and covered by most plans
- Digital imaging and neurological testing, not guesswork
- A written plan with a finish line — not endless visits
Spinal decompression in Novato — the alternative to disc surgery
Non-surgical spinal decompression gently separates two vertebrae by a few millimetres, creating negative pressure inside the disc. Fluid, oxygen and nutrients get pulled back in, the bulge retracts off the nerve, and the pain stops. Dr. DeSalvo is board certified through the International Medical Advisory Board on Spinal Decompression — one of a handful of doctors in California.
01 · Diagnose
Exam, motion and nerve testing, and imaging review to find the involved disc.
02 · Decompress
Computer-controlled sessions on the table — most patients read or nap.
03 · Rebuild
Laser, Shockwave, Regenerative Stimulation, Manual Therapy, and Exercise support work so the disc stays healed.
One of America's Best Spinal Decompression Doctors
National recognition for non-surgical disc care.
Board certified — IMABD
International Medical Advisory Board on Spinal Decompression.
A calm clinic on Redwood Boulevard
Meet Dr. DeSalvo before you come in
A few minutes on how we decide whether decompression is right for your disc, how we approach neuropathy conservatively, and why we test before we treat.
Hurt in a collision? Get examined before the pain settles in.
Whiplash and disc injuries often feel manageable for the first few days and then get worse for months. We see accident patients quickly, find what the emergency room's screening films were never designed to catch, and treat it while it's still reversible — with the documentation your claim depends on built in from the first visit.
- Examined the way a claim requires Orthopedic, neurological and functional testing on day one — documented at the level an adjuster or attorney will actually scrutinise.
- Imaging that shows instability Static films miss ligament injury. Vertebral Motion Analysis next door captures your spine moving, so the injury is measured, not argued about.
- Reports attorneys can use Mechanism of injury, causation, impairment rating and a future-care projection — from a doctor who served ten years as a state-appointed QME.
- 40 yrs
- treating spinal trauma in the Bay Area
- QME
- ten years as a state-appointed Qualified Medical Evaluator
- On site
- digital imaging, with motion imaging next door
- Med Pay
- and most major insurance accepted
- Liens
- attorney liens accepted for personal injury cases
A still picture can't show an unstable spine
An x-ray or MRI photographs your spine holding perfectly still — which is exactly when a torn ligament looks normal. Flexion-extension films alone miss instability in up to 30% of cases. Dr. DeSalvo is Imaging Facility Director of Precision Spine & Motion Imaging, in Suite 104 of our own building, where Vertebral Motion Analysis records the spine while it actually moves.
- Pulsed fluoroscopy captures the spine through controlled flexion and extension — "a movie of the spine in motion".
- Measured angulation, translation and disc height at every level, read independently by a third party.
- Up to 25% less radiation than a traditional four-view x-ray series, and safe for patients with a pacemaker.
Same building, one visit Chiropractic care in Suite 108, motion imaging in Suite 104 — so a diagnosis doesn't cost you a second appointment across town.
12,000+ patients treated since 1987
Dr. Douglas DeSalvo, DC, QME, BCN
Dr. DeSalvo has cared for patients in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1987. Medical physicians and attorneys refer to him for spinal conditions, trauma cases and the complex problems other offices give up on — and his practice is built around finding the cause rather than chasing the symptom.
He holds a California X-ray operating permit and is a State of California Certified Fluoroscopy Owner-Operator, with post-graduate training in both radiology and MRI spine interpretation — so the diagnosis comes from imaging and testing, not guesswork.
- Board Certified · Spinal Decompression
- BCN · Board Certified in Neuropathy
- QME · Qualified Medical Evaluator
- 40 years in practice
DeSalvo Talks Wellness
Dr. DeSalvo shares straight talk on spine health, non-surgical care and staying out of pain — clear conversations you can take with you anywhere. Tune in and subscribe on your favorite app.
Latest episode · Sep 29, 2026 Why Posture Matters More Than Ever in a Screen-Focused WorldListen & subscribe
One visit. Real answers. A plan made for you.
Reserved for new patients: an unhurried first visit with Dr. DeSalvo himself. Your one-on-one consultation, comprehensive exam, muscle and nerve function assessment and first treatment, plus a care plan designed around you, all for $97.
What your New Patient Special includes
- A one-on-one consultation with Dr. DeSalvo
- A comprehensive exam
- A muscle & nerve function assessment
- Your first treatment
- A customized care plan, built around your goals
New patients only, one per person. X-rays are not included. If you choose to continue care, your care plan and its pricing are discussed with you up front. Not available for automobile-accident or personal-injury cases. Read the full New Patient Special disclaimer.
What changes when the pressure comes off your nerves
Relief without surgery
No incisions, no fusion hardware, no six-week recovery. Decompression treats the disc where it sits.
Fewer pills
Patients routinely come off anti-inflammatories and nerve medication once the mechanical cause is fixed.
Range of motion back
Bend, lift, turn your head and sleep on your side again — the ordinary things pain quietly took away.
Sleep through the night
Nerve pain peaks when you lie down. Taking pressure off the disc is what finally lets you rest.
Better nerve function
Numbness, tingling and weakness fade as circulation and signalling return to the affected limb.
It stays fixed
Rehab and posture work at the end of care are what keep the disc from failing again next year.
305+ five-star reviews from Novato and Marin County
4.9 ★★★★★ Google average, 305 reviews
“I had a great experience at DeSalvo Chiropractic! Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and professional, and I felt comfortable from the moment I walked in. They took the time to listen to my concerns and made sure I understood what they were doing throughout my visit.”
“Great chiropractic service! The staff was friendly and professional, and I felt comfortable throughout my visit. The treatment was helpful, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for quality chiropractic care.”
“I am an avid tennis player with the usual tennis injuries and Dr. Desalvo has helped me play again without pain!”
Am I a candidate for non-surgical spinal decompression?
Most patients with a herniated, bulging or degenerated disc are. We confirm it with an exam, nerve testing and a review of your imaging before starting — and if decompression is not the right answer for your spine, Dr. Douglas DeSalvo will tell you that on the first visit.
Is chiropractic care safe?
Yes. Chiropractic adjustments are a safe, well-studied, drug-free way to relieve pain and restore motion. After a thorough exam we confirm you are a good candidate before any treatment.
Does an adjustment hurt?
Most patients feel little to no discomfort — adjustments are quick and gentle, and many people feel relief right away.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on your condition and goals. After your exam, Dr. Douglas DeSalvo recommends a specific, time-bound care plan rather than open-ended treatment.
Do you take insurance?
Coverage depends on your specific plan. We accept most major insurance as well as Med Pay on auto-accident claims — send us your details and we will help you understand your benefits before your visit.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?
No. You can book directly with us — no physician referral is required in California.
I was in a car accident. Should I still come in if I feel mostly fine?
Yes. Whiplash and ligament injuries frequently feel manageable for the first few days and worsen over the following weeks. An early examination both protects your recovery and documents the injury while the findings are still clear.
What conditions do you treat?
Herniated and bulging discs, sciatica, chronic low back pain and neck pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, peripheral neuropathy, headaches and migraines, whiplash and auto injuries, and more. See the full list in “Who we help” above.